Love Letters to Ilkeston

Ruby Waage Townsend (b.1996) is a Leicester based Fine Artist. Her practice merges reality with mythology, re-contextualising folk tales and highlighting the importance and significance of storytelling as a medium for change. Primarily her research focuses on lived experience, interpersonal relationships, and domestic environments, with a strong focus for community engagement. The Project ‘Love Letters to Ilkeston’ aims to highlight the rich past, present, and future, and sense of community in Ilkeston, as well as its unique traditions, sites of beauty, as well as the kindness and generosity of its inhabitants. During her residency, Ruby worked with various groups both in Ilkeston and Heanor and wishes for the legacy of Ilkon to remain a community space, where everyone is welcome, and individuality and creativity are celebrated, no matter who walks through the door.

Ruby is currently an artist in resident as part of the AA2A scheme at Loughborough University and will attend the RCA in 2025. To stay up to date with her endeavours, follow @rubywaagetownsendart